Editorial CLUBS NEW AND OLD ON THE RISE since 1993. Both of these clubs have had incredibly Last Tuesday, the VAFA announced the inclusion for successful seasons 2010 of the Point Cook Amateur Football Club as the throughout their clubs. Old competition’s seventy – fourth football club. Xaverians has had five teams contesting finals (Senior, Discussions had been in progress for over a year and Reserves, U19s, and Club we are delighted to welcome then into the Amateurs. XVIII 1 & 2) Much has been Michael Sholly Point Cook commenced as a junior club in the spoken about the revival of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Western Region Football League and now boast De La and it deserves much fourteen teams. Next season, it is hopeful of going credit. It has had three teams in finals (Senior, U19s 1 straight into D4, fielding two senior teams. & 2). In the Under 19s last week, these clubs displayed their junior talents with Xavs holding off the Point Cook services an expanding community fast finishing De La by just four points. adjacent to the Sanctuary Lakes Golf Course, with a population of 45,000. It is anticipated that the The U19 competition is providing a genuine pathway community will have to establish another junior for our clubs as they work on development rather than football club as just one struggles to cope with the recruitment to provide success. This is also evident in rapidly expanding demand. B Section with minor premiers Old Melburnians also leading the way in U19 South 1 after winning a Club It is vital that the VAFA continues to expand into new XVIII premiership a fortnight ago. They are certainly in and developing communities as we provide an the hunt for four premierships with the seconds also alternative to the metropolitan leagues. alive and playing in today’s second semi final. Point Cook, along with Werribee, Old Westbourne, All clubs need to be aligning themselves with a junior and Williamstown CYMS gives us a strong presence football club or institution to provide a pathway for in the West which makes the task of gaining umpires young footballers. that much easier when there are matches played weekly. Congratulations to MHSOB who have gained promotion along with Rupertswood (D1), Peninsula The previous two clubs to join the VAFA, St Francis (D2), Bentleigh (D3), and Latrobe Uni have joined Xavier and South Mornington, have enjoyed early Albert Park in D4. Today more teams will be rewarded success. St Francis Xavier is playing in the D3 with promotion and the opportunity to win a Preliminary Final against St Marys / Salesian while premiership. The clash at Sandringham between South Mornington was defeated in the D4 Elimination Oakleigh and Caulfield Grammarians promises to be a Final against Richmond Centrals. beauty. Whilst the Grammarians have led the competition all year, the loss last week to MHSOB will On behalf of every section of the VAFA, we welcome surely stir them into action and test their mental Point Cook, whose Number #1 Ticket holder is Deputy strength. Prime Minister Julia Gillard. We wish them every success in their journey. Good luck to all clubs. I urge all spectators to adhere to the VAFA rules and respect the players and officials At the other end of the scale we have Old Xaverians who are completing their tasks to the best of their and De La Salle meeting for the first time in a final ability. TTHEH JOEUR NAL OMF THAE VTICTEORUIANR AM AFTEOURO FOTOTBALAL ALSSLOCEIATR ION September 5th, 2009 Price: $3.00 Vol. 09 No. 20 V THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2009 1 up and had a sizzling first term, booting three and sending the Tigers into worry mode. De La’s speed LAST ROUND’S RESULTS – A again proved trouble for the reigning premier and by A SECTION half-time, the margin was seven goals. It got worse for COLLEGIANS 4.4 5.12 10.13 11.14 (80) Aby MSicEhaeCl FTitzIgOeraN ld OLD XAVERIANS 1.3 3.3 4.7 9.8 (62) the visitors, as it added just a goal beyond that point, COLLEGIANS: Goals: S. Taft 2, J. Kondarovswkis 2, T. Baxter 2, N. Bobeff, J. while the Dees added eight. Second spot, and the double As this page’s immediate-past-penciller observed last There was no lack of Jorgensen, W. Tardif, H. Croft, N. Ries. Best: N. Stone, S. Inglis, T. Zimbachs, D. chance was not gifted, rather snatched by the Blue and Strachan, T. Baxter, H. Croft OLD XAVS: Goals: D. Lynch 3, C. Smith 2, J. Agius, week, Round 18 never fails to surprise. Certainly, this confidence at Camberwell, Golds who wanted it more. Damien “Damage” Hale was D. Sapuppo, A. Ryan, E. Prowse. Best: C. Purss, A. Ryan, E. Prowse, N. Wynne, year it didn’t. As the curtain fell on another home and with Old Scotch keen to J. Agius, M. Darvell best afield, while Luke Jarvis added another notch to his away season, the top two teams lowered their colours, properly farewell Rob OLD ESSENDON 0.4 2.5 5.9 7.10 (52) belt and Corin and Mike Duggan kicked enough to win MARCELLIN 5.5 8.12 11.16 16.20 (116) while the bottom team gained some last-minute Ashton and Ben Doherty and the game themselves. Hiwad Shakaib, Jack Hellier and OLD ESSENDON: Goals: R. Trajkovski 2, L. Geister 2, D. Flaherty, B. Jones, N. consolation with a big win. the re-signing of Peter Uren. Best: D. Cooper, D. Flaherty, N. Bartram, R. Trajkovski, T. Biggs, C. Taxis Tyquin were best in the sash, who succumbed in Banfield for two years Tsardakis MARCELLIN: Goals: D. Marson 5, G. Romanin 3, D. Cullinan 2, H. Lee the end by a massive 87 points. 2, J. Bortolotto, M. Bortolotto, L. Considine, J. Crapper. Best: D. Marson, J. Suddenly there was sunshine at Chelsworth, ending ushering in a new era of stability. Uni Blues needed to Augustin, W. Jarred, J. Carlson, L. Considine, J. Blanch Old Ivanhoe’s winter of discontent. With just one win win to hold fourth spot, though they might have THIS WEEK DE LA SALLE 5.6 10.9 13.13 18.19 (127) between opening day and closing time, the Browns expected some help from elsewhere. The Cards opened ST BEDES/MENTONE TIGERS 2.1 4.3 4.8 5.10 (40) It is September and now the questions will be answered. have seen better years, but their final act was their best in sensational fashion to lead by four goals at the first DE LA SALLE: Goals: B. Corin 6, M. Duggan 4, S. Nethersole 2, D. Hale 2, W. The carnival moves to the plain at Elsternwick, where Fenton, L. Harrison, N. Roberts, J. Phillips. Best: D. Hale, L. Jarvis, S. for the campaign, touching up a Tonner team that change, which should have served as a wake-up call for reputations are enhanced or damaged and premierships Nethersole, J. Gotch, S. Williams, B. Corin SBMT: Goals: L. Terrell 2, L. Wintle couldn’t wait for all to be over. Coach pro-tem Brad the Varsity. Half-way through the second, however, 2, M. Wintle. Best: H. Shakaib, J. Hellier, J. Tyquin, L. Wintle, J. Kane, S. Anstey won or lost. Thompson inspired a team effort that yielded twenty- Blues trailed by fifty four points and their season was in OLD SCOTCH 5.4 10.6 11.9 12.12 (84) one goals shared among twelve marksmen, with the dumpster. Well, temporarily. The wily Mark UNIVERSITY BLUES 1.4 5.7 13.10 19.14 (128) Sunday’s First Semi-Final between St Bede’s Mentone OLD SCOTCH: Goals: A. Pike 2, B. Doherty 2, W. Strange 2, A. Quail, C. Tallent, Adrian Delmonte striking four. Nick Marston, the dour Paterson took over and with some inspirational work Tigers and University Blues sees the reigning premier a L. Thompson, T. Widmer, M. Tyler, B. Clarke. Best: A. Pike, T. Widmer, C. Tallent, and reliable defender was best for Brighton and had from Andrew Lowcock and some strong efforts from M. Tyler, R. Ashton, G. Dick UNI BLUES: Goals: G. Decrespigny 4, C. Shaw 4, D. strong favourite. An eighty-seven point thrashing is not assistance from the sparky David Spriggs and the Jack Watts and Matt Torney, Blues added eighteen of Heinz 2, A. Lowcock 2, I. Orr 2, Q. Gleeson, J. Watts, B. McConnell, J. Mugavin, the best preparation for a knockout final, but it’s not the M. Lewis. Best: M. Paterson, M. Lewis, M. Torney, C. Shaw, J. Watts, D. consistent Matt Gadsden, but Old Ivanhoe had winners the next twenty goals to roar home. An Elsternwick date end of the world either. Bede’s handled Blues with some Nicholson all over the field: Stuey Low, Ricky Jessop, Sam beckons for the Uni team, while the Scotch brainstrust OLD IVANHOE 6.6 10.9 15.13 21.14 (140) ease at a Sportscover clash early in the year, and Geilings, Hayden Heta as well as the redoubtable is already focused on next season. OLD BRIGHTON 3.0 5.5 8.9 10.16 (76) managed to crush them with one quarter of devastation OLD IVANHOE: Goals: A. Delmonte 4, R. Jessop 3, S. Low 2, B. Harrison 2, C. gambolling gaffer himself. Despite the win, Old under the spires. On paper, the Tigers are a more talented Nichol 2, T. Cotsworth 2, L. Bolzan, S. Geilings, E. Spargo, H. Heta, C. Gianfagna, Ivanhoe have been relegated, while Old Brighton are A listless Old Xaverians were shown the door by outfit, but the Varsity’s strength is its dogged S.